A Message from Gordon Martin, Board President

Last year, A+ President and Co-founder, Caroline Novak, informed our board of her intention to retire at the end of 2018, following some 27 years as a ubiquitous force in Alabama education. Caroline has led the A+ fight to ensure that every child in Alabama receives a high quality education that will put them on the path to successful lives and meaningful employment. She has been a tireless advocate for students and relentless in her pursuit of excellence in education.

Under Caroline’s leadership, A+ has developed an enviable reputation as a trusted non-partisan advocate for advancements in public education statewide, sometimes as partner, sometimes as critical friend, but always as an advocate for better outcomes. Programmatically, A+ is a highly respected source of innovative research and practical tools for both educators and policymakers.

Caroline plans to spend more time with her family, especially her two granddaughters, and then decide what the next chapter might bring. Caroline told me: “It is important to know when it is time to exit, particularly for founders of non-profits. And that time is now for A+.”

She went on to say: “After I announced plans to retire, we began a multi-year effort to ensure a smooth transition. Everyone on the board and staff of A+ is engaged. As a result, the next leader will inherit an organization that is in great shape for a new future with a strong board, dedicated staff, critical relationships across the state, successful programs, and healthy finances.”

BoardWalk Consulting has been retained to assist in the search for a successor who can build on the organization’s considerable successes, and the search is underway. For information, click here.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with you and pursuing our shared mission of educating every student for success. I know you join me in thanking Caroline for her incredible service to the children of Alabama and to A+ for more than a quarter century.